[PSP] Persona 2: Innocent Sin Being Remade [Archive]

frederec

10-27-2010, 06:13 AM

As seen over at Kotaku (http://kotaku.com/5674332/persona-2-innocent-sin-getting-remake). When the original Persona was remade for PSP, fans began hoping for a remake of the one that got away, Persona 2: Innocent Sin, the one game in the Persona series that never made it to North America. Now Innocent Sin has been officially announced as being remade for the PSP. And with Atlus's track record for releasing their games in North America these days, the chances are good that we'll see it over here before long.

As noted by website Siliconera, one big gameplay change is the ability to see the demons' emotions. This, it seems, will simplify in-game negotiation.

Macross Frontier anime studio Satellite will handle the game's new opening, but Atlus is also including the original opener, too. There were plans to include the entire original game, but those plans were shelved as it's impossible for UMD.

Persona 2: Innocent Sin will feature PSP-style widescreen support to make maps and menus easier to navigate.

I believe that quote answers the question of "why not release Innocent Sin and Eternal Punishment on one UMD?" Though they say, "impossible for UMD," I expect it's more likely the real answer is, "Why release it as one game when we can release them separately and get more money?"

http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/9/2010/10/500x_ruru1288137053114.jpg

Purple Santa

10-27-2010, 06:20 AM

Awesome! This is the game I only have heard the Persona crazies talk about (that would be you and Spigot) this game they got to play. Maybe this will motivate me to finish the first one.

Chris_D

10-27-2010, 07:51 AM

I'm definitely more interested in this than the first game, which just seemed too archaic. However, I also wish they could have got both Persona 2 games in a single release. Maybe Atlus US can do that?

jpublic

10-27-2010, 08:20 AM

It honestly depends what they're doing with it. We know that the plain game are each small enough that two could fit on a UMD, but considering what they did with P1, if they do the same kind of enhancement (texture improvement, etc), it might be impossible.

Chris_D

10-27-2010, 08:22 AM

Make it a PSN only 4 gig download then ;).

Edit: OK OK, release a 2 disc umd version for diehards.

frederec

10-27-2010, 08:38 AM

Make it a PSN only 4 gig download then ;).

Edit: OK OK, release a 2 disc umd version for diehards.

As nice as that would be, the way this was announced, I don't see it happening. The main reason is that it sounds like they're working on Innocent Sin now, and aren't even touching Eternal Punishment, nor even guaranteeing that they will (though I suspect that's just PR). This means there will be enough of a time difference between Japanese releases of Innocent Sin and Eternal Punishment that it would be awkward to wait until after both have been released before putting together a bundle of two English versions together.

Now on the other hand, if after they release each individually, they re-release them in a combo pack, I could see that happening. Maybe they'll give us a box with the first to hold them both, like they did with Digital Devil Saga. That would be cool.

Chris_D

10-27-2010, 08:42 AM

frederec

10-27-2010, 08:46 AM

Well, we did get the benefit of a FES release with the entire Persona 3 game included at a discounted price. So, I hope something is worked out here. Either that, or price it at $15-20 (sorry, I'm spoiled by PSN sales these days).

Don't get me wrong, I think all your ideas are great ideas. And ever since the first Persona came out on PSP I've been dreaming of a single UMD Persona 2:IS/EP. But I don't think it's going to happen.

With FES, if I recall correctly they released two versions in Japan simultaneously. One that required Persona 3, and one that was a standalone game. It made sense for Atlus to release the standalone version, since Persona 3 was already a rare commodity. Releasing it at a discount was a bonus, especially for those who bought it when it first came out.

But they've set the standard with their PSP releases of Persona and Persona 3, so I doubt they're going to change it up. Again, this is one of those cases where I'd love to be wrong. I just doubt it'll happen.

Chris_D

10-27-2010, 08:54 AM

frederec

10-27-2010, 09:11 AM

Well having now almost completed 2 playthroughs of Persona 3: Portable (100 hours or so), one as the male mc, and one as the female, I'm very impressed with the amount of extra work put into that game, especially as someone who only ever owned the original P3. Just recording all those extra lines of dialog must have been a bitch (unless they somehow had the foresight to do male and female versions originally). So, I felt happy to pay the $30-40 for it. I'm just not getting the feeling that P2 is going to be that different from the PS1 original, and these games are pretty dated. Like I said, I never picked up Persona 1 PSP for that reason. I already own Persona 2: Eternal Punishment on PS1, and that gameplay is a bit old school for my tastes (I replayed through a chunk of it just a year ago). I assume Innocent Sin is along the same lines.

From the article, it sounds like the upgrades are on par with what we got with the Persona port. And yeah, Innocent Sin and Eternal Punishment are very similar in style (with some places reused between the two games). I personally loved Eternal Punishment, and am looking forward to having an official release of Innocent Sin designed for the PSP, rather than the fan translation I've got now. But the way you're talking, it sounds like this won't really be for you.

Hawkzombie

10-27-2010, 12:38 PM

I will buy this if we're getting both over here. I own both, and debated, seriously, for a few weeks on learning Japanese simply to be able to play it.

frederec

10-27-2010, 12:56 PM

I will buy this if we're getting both over here. I own both, and debated, seriously, for a few weeks on learning Japanese simply to be able to play it.

You know there's an English patch (http://tsumi.wordpress.com/) for Innocent Sin, right?

Gorvi

10-27-2010, 06:38 PM

Want. Now get to remaking Eternal Punishment then start on Persona 4. Oh, and where's Persona 5?!! Hurry up! ;)

frederec

10-27-2010, 06:41 PM

Want. Now get to remaking Eternal Punishment then start on Persona 4. Oh, and where's Persona 5?!! Hurry up! ;)

I think they've indicated that the port is being handled somewhat externally. So porting all these old Persona games shouldn't be slowing down Persona 5. Blame that delay on Catherine.

I would not complain in the slightest if we get all the Personas 1-4 on PSP. Atlus might as well have my bank account number.

Ririkun

10-27-2010, 08:19 PM

Oh. Em. Fuckin'. Gee.

This is amazing news, especially, as said, with Atlus' track record on releasing stuff in the States recently. I've only played a little bit of the fan translation and saw someone play the whole game on stream (and thus know about some of the BS encounter rates and obtuse dungeons later on in the game), but I would love to have the full game with an official release. I didn't get the original Persona remake, but I've always been tempted to, even though I haven't really seriously gotten into the Persona series OR the SMT series.

Considering all we've gotten, though, is Eternal Punishment, to release Innocent Sin in the States is something great, since releasing more games in the States is always a good thing.

Xerxes

10-27-2010, 08:35 PM

They better do Eternal Punishment!

frederec

10-27-2010, 08:46 PM

They better do Eternal Punishment!

Patience, friend. If they're doing Innocent Sin, the odds are pretty darn good they'll do the Eternal Punishment. We just gotta wait for the (almost) inevitable.

Xerxes

10-27-2010, 08:56 PM

Patience, friend. If they're doing Innocent Sin, the odds are pretty darn good they'll do the Eternal Punishment. We just gotta wait for the (almost) inevitable.

I hope. They should know I buy in sets.

Signed,
The Collector

Ririkun

10-27-2010, 09:42 PM

Funnily enough, I just asked one of my friends what he thought of them "remaking" P2:IS and he said he was glad they were "remaking" it, since he was hoping they'd actually make it using the P3/4 system of gameplay. I'm betting the odds of that are zero-to-nil, regardless of how well or poorly P1R did. I don't see them changing the core gameplay, even if they are "remaking" it.

jpublic

10-28-2010, 10:38 AM

God no, P2 should never be remade as a P3/P4-style game.

Don't get me wrong, I love P3/P4 a lot, but P2 had its own charm.

Gorvi

10-29-2010, 06:31 AM

And here is your stylish intro movie:

gkQUnth9vV4

frederec

10-29-2010, 06:56 AM

And here is your stylish intro movie:

Starts out very acid heavy, and I don't care for the rap, but by the end of it I'm enjoying it. At first it threw me off, since I thought Maya wore a different outfit in Innocent Sin and Eternal Punishment. But no, you just don't see her outfit as much in Innocent Sin since she's not the protagonist in that one.

Gorvi

10-29-2010, 06:59 AM

Yeah, the "rap" wasn't nearly as catchy as in past vocal songs they've thrown in the Persona games, but the overall music was still quite good.

So fred, having not played my copy of P2 yet at all, how are the improvements going from P1 to P2? I really wanted to like the P1 remake but I just couldn't bring myself to make it through the battles, they just felt far too tedious and drawn out. I liked the out of battle stuff, but the fights just killed it for me.

frederec

10-29-2010, 07:06 AM

So fred, having not played my copy of P2 yet at all, how are the improvements going from P1 to P2? I really wanted to like the P1 remake but I just couldn't bring myself to make it through the battles, they just felt far too tedious and drawn out. I liked the out of battle stuff, but the fights just killed it for me.

In my opinion, the fights are the biggest improvement. Mainly in that there's no longer restrictions based on where you're positioned in the field. That alone smooths things out a great deal. You no longer have to worry about a character sitting there doing nothing because they're positioned badly relative to the enemy.

The other change, which takes a bit of getting used to, is that the battles default to an auto-battle. You can stop it any time, and rearrange the mode of attack. But more importantly, you can juggle the attack order of your party. This is particularly important because there are lots of fusion spells. So rearranging your attack order makes it easier to set those off.

The way you obtain personae is also different, but that's not as big of a shift. Instead of gaining specific persona cards in negotiation, you get cards of the different arcana, sometimes dozens at a time, which you then trade in at the velvet room for personae. There are naturally special ones, and mutations that can happen, but in the context of the series, the P2 games are the only ones that don't have persona fusion, so it stands out that way.

Gorvi

10-29-2010, 07:07 AM

Interesting. I guess I could just pop in my copy of Eternal Punishment and see for myself. :p

frederec

10-29-2010, 07:10 AM

Interesting. I guess I could just pop in my copy of Eternal Punishment and see for myself. :p

It is awesome. And I think it's one of the few RPGs where the final boss is a Lovecraftian deity.

Gorvi

10-29-2010, 07:22 AM

It is awesome. And I think it's one of the few RPGs where the final boss is a Lovecraftian deity.
I'm kinda surprised that doesn't happen more.

Purple Santa

10-30-2010, 04:45 AM

It is awesome. And I think it's one of the few RPGs where the final boss is a Lovecraftian deity.

Damn. Now I REALLY want to play this.

frederec

10-30-2010, 07:42 AM

Damn. Now I REALLY want to play this.

That's Eternal Punishment whose boss is Lovecraftian. I don't think Innocent Sin has the same boss. I know Hitler is involved in there somewhere, but I don't know who the final boss is off the top of my head.

Ririkun

10-30-2010, 09:12 AM

It doesn't happen to be that Jester guy or something that's the final boss, does it?

Also, I "WHAT"'d at one single thing in that intro video: "Director: Shoji Meguro." WHAT. Meguro is DIRECTING this remake? He's the music composer for the series. This is an odd turn of events, though no telling if it's a bad thing or not yet.

MagGnome

10-30-2010, 10:31 AM

Remind me to avoid the WeekDay/WeekEnd threads when this comes out. :p

finalhour

10-30-2010, 10:41 AM

Meguro is DIRECTING this remake? He's the music composer for the series. This is an odd turn of events, though no telling if it's a bad thing or not yet.

I think he directed the P1 remake as well.

frederec

10-30-2010, 10:49 AM

I think he directed the P1 remake as well.

Yeah, this is true. I think Persona PSP was his first directing job, though he's done the music for the MegaTen series since the original Persona came out in 1996. Maybe directing ports is his way of easing into a bit of diversification.

Purple Santa

11-05-2010, 08:31 PM

Remind me to avoid the WeekDay/WeekEnd threads when this comes out. :p

You wouldn't have to avoid us if you actually PLAYED the persona game you were sent :)

And you couldn't avoid any thread. It would impinge upon your post count.

jpublic

11-05-2010, 09:39 PM

Yeah, what's with this "Gnome not playing P3" BS?

MagGnome

11-05-2010, 10:25 PM

I'm going to play it, I swear!

It's just...well...I've been busy. :o

LarsenNET

11-05-2010, 10:28 PM

You should stay out now, I just started Persona 4 ;)

Xerxes

11-05-2010, 10:29 PM

Just bought P3P. :)

frederec

11-14-2010, 07:11 AM

Siliconera (http://www.siliconera.com/2010/11/12/persona-2-innocent-sin-then-and-now/) has a series of screenshots comparing the original PS1 game to the PSP remake. Many of the differences are subtle, but the improvements are noticeable, especially in general sharpness of the picture.

I'm just about setting my watch, expecting to see this over here some time this next summer, or possibly fall.

frederec

03-25-2011, 06:51 AM

The Japanese release is three weeks away, so some new details have emerged, courtesy of Siliconera. Apparently one of the features of the Climax theater (http://www.siliconera.com/2011/02/24/persona-2-innocent-sin-class-the-charisma-classroom-is-now-in-session/), new to this version, is the ability for players to make their own quests (http://www.siliconera.com/2011/03/25/a-look-at-persona-2-innocent-sins-quest-editor/).

jpublic

03-25-2011, 07:37 AM

Do we have any more info on the probablility of a NA release?

frederec

03-25-2011, 08:58 AM

Do we have any more info on the probablility of a NA release?

No. But I'm not too nervous, since Atlus tends to hold off on official announcements until around the time the game is released in Japan. Devil Survivor Overclocked was a rare exception, probably so they could get as close to the 3DS launch as possible.

So if Atlus doesn't announce anything by the end of April, I'll start getting nervous. But until then, I've got hope that they'll continue supporting one of their bigger franchises.

Purple Santa

04-23-2011, 04:40 AM

So if Atlus doesn't announce anything by the end of April, I'll start getting nervous. But until then, I've got hope that they'll continue supporting one of their bigger franchises.

Should we be nervous yet? I might have to buy Hawkzombie's copy if Mags doesn't buy it.

frederec

04-23-2011, 07:59 AM

Should we be nervous yet? I might have to buy Hawkzombie's copy if Mags doesn't buy it.

We've still got a week left of April. And they messed with us plenty over Catherine. With their support of MegaTen in recent years, especially Persona, I'll be surprised if they don't bring it over. On top of that, their coming soon games is pretty light on RPGs at the moment.

But none of these things are guarantees. I'm trying not to let the paranoid part of me take over. Which is difficult, because the paranoid part of me is like 65% of me.

frederec

05-19-2011, 02:39 PM

BLeeP

05-19-2011, 02:44 PM

I mentioned this in the weekday thread, but for those who haven't seen it:

Anyone else just get the new Atlus newsletter? It's retro, dated June 23rd, 1999. The top article is, "This Week in News: Absolutely no new games releasing today in Japan."

Notice, according to Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persona_2), Persona 2: Innocent Sin released in Japan on January 24, 1999.

I think we're getting a little closer...I'm hoping for an announcement either soon by email, or at E3.

Yea, I just spent time viewing every image to see what everything in the email was named in case there were any clues. Innocent Sin was the first thing that popped into my mind, but besides the date there is nothing else giving any indication as to why the email was sent out.

frederec

05-24-2011, 05:55 AM

It's official. We're getting it.

D07mro7NOkA

As of this moment, it's just got a placeholder on amazon (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00523VFJU/ref=cm_sw_su_dp), but I expect it'll be available for preorder soon.

Gorvi

05-24-2011, 06:05 AM

Very nice. I need to go back and give the first one another go.

LarsenNET

05-24-2011, 06:29 AM

This leaves Eternal Punishment as the only one that needs be be re-released correct?

frederec

05-24-2011, 06:39 AM

This leaves Eternal Punishment as the only one that needs be be re-released correct?

Yes, essentially. Since Innocent Sin and Eternal Punishment are companion games, I really would expect them to give the same treatment to Eternal Punishment. But the last time Atlus Japan was asked about it, they were a bit cagey. So there are no guarantees that they are working or will work on it, but I hope they will.

But if they did do Eternal Punishment, then the only Persona game that doesn't have a PSP version would be Persona 4. And as much as they say the PS2 version was "complete," I wouldn't complain about getting a version with a female playthrough like P3P.

MagGnome

05-24-2011, 09:01 AM

That trailer makes me want to go back to Persona 3.

frederec

05-24-2011, 09:09 AM

That trailer makes me want to go back to Persona 3.

You should. I love the Persona 2's, but 3 and 4 are much more polished experiences, and ultimately a different kind of RPG (which is why fans took a bit of time to be okay with all the changes). However, both Persona 2's are greatly superior to the original Persona, the biggest downside is you have to grind twice as many enemies as you would normally (you have to grind for experience, and you have to grind for tarot cards, since you can't get both in one battle).